>> Monday, May 3, 2010

>> Friday, April 30, 2010

We as Christians are often asked about our faith, sometimes why we are so against going clubbing or that it is a bad thing.

Well firstly the Bible does not say it is a bad thing, even the people in Jesus’s time went partying and the Bible mentions it many times that people party until they get drunk.

So, why some Christians club and some don’t?

Clubbing is generally a place where people meet, drink alcohol, dance and some hook up either for one night stands or for friends. That is the reality of clubs we can’t avoid it.We as Christians understand these very clearly especially what is shown in the media.

There are many reasons why we go to clubs, there are some with the intention of just having a great time and having no intention to hook up, get drunk with anybody or to conduct any sinful acts. However being in a club is sometimes dangerous for us Christians as we put ourselves in a situation of compromise. We may go there for the right intentions, but there are wolves out there in sheep’s clothing waiting to devour you man and woman alike.

Another reason, Christians don’t go clubbing is because we don’t want to stumble our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.Paul gave us an example of eating food offered to idols.

1 Cor 8:10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?

12But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Causing a brother to stumble isn’t about him just entering the club to have fun.God has nothing against you entering a club. But the brother or sister in Christ with a weak conscience, might enter the club seeing you drunk and having fun, might associate themselves with the very intention the club was built. This could lead to sin.

Many Christians would say I know what I am doing, I am mature enough, I can take care of myself and my friends are here to protect me. We must also evaluate our friends, if they are the friends we ought to club with what kind of friends are they? Being unequally yoked with an unbeliever could mean danger for you too, as the other person could indeed be the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

I’d rather not enter into an area of temptation and cause my fellow brother to stumble. Especially in our current world, where information spreads so fast with the internet and facebook. I would rather not go and not sin against God then to go and lose a brother.

1 Cor 8:13Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

So even if we don’t go clubbing, can I still get drunk?

Drunkenness isn’t described as a sin in the Bible, however God puts it for us that drunkenness leads to foolishness. It is in this foolishness that one falls into temptation. Drunkenness puts us into a state of compromise. Being so smashed after the party, many of us would have no idea what we are doing. Being drunk in a club, you would put yourselves in danger for predators to come in and cause you to sin.

It is important to note that, God has given us life and life abundantly. We should live our lives sensitive to our conscience and the Holy Spirit to help lead us make better judgments.

As a Christian, if clubbing causes you to sin, repent and flee from temptation, if it isn’t and you think you are there to have fun, be aware of wolves in sheep’s clothing and try not to get drunk as it compromises your alertness, weakens your conscience and it might also cause you to sin unintentionally.

There was once a story about this pastor who enters brothels, pays the prostitute for their time and uses that time to teach them about God, that is his ministry. Well some of us might think, hey I can do that to! Not all of us are called for such things, instead of being the influencer we might end up being the influenced. Knowing this it is not up to us to judge and condemn other, however if sin is evident it must be dealt with.

God created us to be salt and light of the world. Would we want to tell the world about clubbing and it’s intentions?

But more importantly, since we are made in God’s image and we ought to be more and more like Jesus as we get closer to Him, so would Jesus go clubbing?

In the end everybody is answerable to God themselves. We are not here to judge but to build each other up in God.

>> Thursday, December 17, 2009

Avatar a film about which reflects how selfish our human desires can take us, such as destroying a peace loving race. Overall I find the film's aesthetics beautiful with its lush greenery and very life like plants and creatures. The story line had a moral attachment to the film as in many Koreans movies which shares confucian values such as love and peace. The story developed its characters really fast throughout the film, such as the time span it took Jake (the main character) to fully master his avatar as well as completing his passage rites as a Navi hunter and gaining the trust of the natives. The visual effects in this film made me feel as if I wished I was in such a beautiful planet with floating mountains and its lush greenery. The Navi characters seem to have a connection with their planet itself, it is as if the planet is one living organism as it able to connect with the planet's creatures and Navi race utilizing a connector most creatures in the film seem to have. This connection is what bonds or connects the Navi with these creatures to be able to ride or fly the animals, it also enables the Navi to connect to the planet and to bring back pass memories of long dead ancestors. Tha Navi race reminded me a bit of the African races in the way they dress, their customs and weapons. But the term "Avatar" was borrowed from the Hindu religion of a deity or god in human form. The sound effects had a very big impact in the movie from big loud booms to a lively music score, the sound and music played a big part in developing Jake's character through the 3 months he spent with the Navi people. The battle scenes could have been a bit longer but nonetheless an epic battle. The film ended with a happy ending, hence most "Hollywood Narrative Structure" do follow these rules. Although unlike other independent films like Maangamizi directed by Martin Mhando, which teaches us about African religion and culture, at least this films do teach us about what's going on in James Cameron's fantasy mind. I would really recommend this film to anyone to watch, by the way I didn't watch this in a 3D cinema. If you have any experience watching this in a 3D cinema feel free to tell me if it's worth it, I might go to video ezy and borrow one with 3D glasses when it comes out in DVD =). Ratings: Storyline - 8/10 Cinematography - 10/10 Sound - 9/10 Visual Effects - 9/10 Overall-9/10 (This is not an average) RaphRaph =) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> Thursday, November 19, 2009

Clicks performed by the 12 girls band, a chinese band consisted of 13 females, one added after the confirmation of the name "12". They use traditional instruments to play popular tunes. They even did a cover to Bond's Victory haha. anyway this makes me want to buy an Erhu. Since the Erhu's 2 strings are the same intonations as the violin and I play violin. Hopefully it isnt too hard to pickup haha